Biomolecule-modified synthetic polymers for wound healing and orthopaedic applications

Synthetic polymers play an important role in medical devices such as implants, wound dressings and catheters since the first use of polyethylene in bone and cartilage implants in the 1940s. Since then, many more synthetic polymers have been used in medical devices for applications ranging from orthopaedic implants, wound care products, heart valves, and stents to tissue grafts. However, nearly all the polymers used in these devices are bioinert, except for some that are biodegradable such as polyesters. These polymers generally do not confer bioactivity on their own and need additional stimuli such as through modification with biomolecules or blending with bioadditives. We term polymers chemically modified with biomolecules “Biohybrid Polymers” and they represent a new class of biomaterials that are purely synthetic. These biomaterials possess properties required for use in applications such as tissue engineering and medical device fabrication. In this review, we explore the different types of biohybrid polymers that have been reported for use in skin, bone and cartilage tissue engineering with brief descriptions of their chemical synthesis methods. The materials are categorised based on their targeted applications in wound care or orthopaedics to help readers understand what are the potential materials that may be used for each type of tissue being regenerated.